Pipe wrench



C. L. MOORE.

P|PE WRENCH. APPLICATION ll'lLED OCT. 26.1920- RENEWED JUNE 25.1921.1,404,178, Patented Jan. 17, 1922.

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UNITED STATES PTENT OFFIQE.

CLARENCE L. MOORE, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR TO E. O. EDXVARDS,OF

` SEATTLE, "NASHINGTON.

PIPE WRENCH.

Application filed October 26, 1920, Serial No. 419,578.

To f//ZZ w/lom t may concern Be it known that l, CLARENCE L. Moolen, acitizen of the United States, and residing at Seattle, in the county ofKing and State et lVashington, have invented certain new and usefulimprovements in Pipe llVrenches, o which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to an improvement in wrenches of that type knownas pipe wrenches, and is directed particularly to a means whereby theoperating pressure on the wrench serves to bind the movable jaw intocloser gripping contact with the work.

ln thc drawings Fig. 1 is a view in elevation ot the improved wrench.

Fig. Q is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

.The shank 1 having rounded edges 2 and 8, whichl tor the purposes ofthe present invention are formed with threads 1. The upper end of theshank formed or provided with iixed jaw 5, having anoperative serratedtace 6 as is usual in wrenches oi this type.

The movable jaw 7 is slidably connected to the shank through the mediumof upper and lower connecting straps 8 and 9. These straps are rigidlysecured to the jaw, .as by rivets 10, and both straps encircle theshank. rThe upper strap 8 is et such length as to permit a movement ofthe upper portion ott the movable jaw relative to the snank, the lowerstrap 9 also permitting' movement ot the jaw relative to the shank, butto a less degree than the movement permitted by the upper strap. Anoperating nut 11 is threaded on the shank between the straps 8 and 9,and the upper and lower ends et the operating nut 11 are formed asconical portions 1'2 and 18. That portion of the movable jaw surroundingthe nut 11 is cutaway at 141 to receive the nut and at the upper andlower edges of such cutaway portions is formed with inclined walls 15 tocooperate with the conical portions 12 and 13 ot the nut.

The operative tace ot the movable jaw is laterally enlarged and serratedas at 16, as is usual in wrenches of this type, and said movable jawbelow the operative tace is formed with a recess 17 to receive a pin 18,having a head 19 to bear upon the shank. A spring 20 encircles the pinwithin the recess,

Specification of Letters Patent.

improved wrench comprises a mainA Patented Jan. 17, 1922.

Renewed June 25, 1921.V Serial No. 480,482.

and bears between the bottom of the recess and the shank on the pin tonormally exert an outward pressure on the pin.

In use the jaws are engaged with the work, following the adjustment otthe movable jaw lengthwise the shank through the operation of the nut11, it will be apparent that pressure from the handle formed by thelower portion of the shank causes the upper end of the movable jaw tomove inwardly toward the shank. This movement of the jaw causes awedging cooperation between the inclined wall 15 of the j aw-reoess andthe conical portion of the operating nut. This wedging action tends toforce the movable jaw upwardly or into closer gripping contact with thework. Of course it is understood that there is a slight relativelongitudinal movement between the straps 8 and 9, and the operating nut11. Upon release of the pressure on the operating handle, the pin 18actuates to move the jaw 7 away from the shank, thus relieving thewedging action referred to and permitting a ready disengagement of thewrench from the work.

`What I claim is 1. A wrench comprising a shank terminating in a fixedjaw, a movable jaw, straps connecting the movable jaw with the shank topermit a` relatively lateral movement of the movable jaw, an adjustingnut threaded on the shank and operating between the straps to move themovable jaw lengthwise the shank, the movable jaw and nut being formedwith cooperating inclined surita-ces to force said movable jaw towardthe fixed in the pressure on the shank in operating on the work.

2. A wrench comprising a shank terminating` in a fixed jaw, a movable jaw, straps connecting the movable jaw with the shank to permit arelatively lateral movement of the movable jaw, .an adjusting nutthreaded on the shank and operating between the straps to move themovable jaw lengthwise the shank, the movable jaw having a recessterminating in inclined walls and the ,adjusting nut having a conicalportion for wedging cooperation with said inclined walls in operation ofthe wrench.

3. A wrench comprising a shank terminating in a fixed jaw, a movablejaw, straps connecting the movable jaw with the shank wedgingcooperation with Said inclined Walls in operation of the wrench, andspring means-to force the movable jaw from the l0 shank when saidmovable jaw is free ofthe wedging cooperation with the nut.

In testimony whereof I alix my Si nature.

CLARENCE VL. MO RE.

